joewein.de LLC fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter! Free trial for 30 days

"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• The following fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
  • "first national bank" (not involved with lotteries)
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "million dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +27736183371 (South Africa, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: tony ndlovu <tonyndlo29@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <mr.tndlovu@yahoo.ca>
Date: Wed, 24 Oct 2007 07:07:02 -0200
Subject: Foreign Investment Partner.




From: Tony Ndlovu
36 Prichard street
Johannesburg-South Africa
Phone: +27 736183371

Foreign Investment Partner.
Dear Sir/Madam,I do recognize and apologize for the surprise this message will bring to you as it comes from a stranger. I got your contact from yahoo personality data base and my spirit convinced me to contact you.I am MR.TONY NDLOVU, Bank Manager of First National Bank of South Africa(FNB). There is an account opened in our bank in 2003 and since 2004 nobody has operated on this account again. After going through some old files in the records, I discovered that if I do not transfer this money out urgently it would be forfeited for nothing. The owner of this account is MR.BURNELL JORDAN, a foreigner, and a miner at Kruger gold Co, a Geologist by profession and he died since 2004. No other person knows about this account or any thing concerning it, the account has no Beneficiary and the amount involved is US$12.5-MILLION.I am contacting you because of the need to involve you as late MR.BURNELL JORDAN Next of Kin. I need your full co-operation to make this business work very well because our Bank is ready to approve this Money to any foreigner who has correct information of this account, which I will give to you later, If you are capable and willing to handle this business with strict Confidentiality and Trust because this opportunity will never come my way again in my life. I need you to be Honest in this business because I don't want to make any mistake. I need your strong assurance and trust. I will use my position in the office to influence the transfer of this money to your overseas nominated bank account in any part of the World for our mutual benefit.Please be 100% rest assured that everything about this business are all Legal, Risk-free,True, Geniue and Safe.You will be entitled to 40% of the US$12.5-Million Dollars for your assistance and help. On a successful transfer of this fund into your nominated foreign bank account, I will fly down to your country for my 60% share and other investments.I await your urgent reply for further arrangement in this regards.Sincerely Yours,Mr.Tony Ndlovu
_________________________________________________________________
Are you ready for Windows Live Messenger Beta 8.5 ? Get the latest for free today!
http://entertainment.sympatico.msn.ca/WindowsLiveMessenger

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam